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Original poster

Failed root canal

35 replies

noddyholder · 26/02/2006 17:29

I have been having trouble with a tooth for over 3 years I had a root canal and it still hurt like mad even after months.I changed dentist and he gave me antibiotics which helped a bit but 6 months later the top/filling fell out (last week)and he filed the rough edges down to stop it cutting my tongue and scheduled an extraction for 15 march.I have now been in agony with it all weekend living on painkillers and clove oil and I think it is infected The tooth is definitely not dead because if I tap it I am nearly in tears.I intend to gotomorrow as an emergency but a friend has told me that an infected tooth won't numb!and now I am terrifed of the pain Any experience of this?I am desperate to have it out but am frightened of feeling it

OP posts:
Original poster
noddyholder · 26/02/2006 18:07

HELP!!

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heavenis · 26/02/2006 18:12

I've had failed root canal and had the tooth extracted. They didn't have any trouble numbing it and I couldn't believe how quickly the dentist got the tooth came out.
They usually numb it and then check if it's hurting and if it is they can give you more stuff.
Hope all goes well for you, there is nothing like the pain of a tooth.

Yorkiegirl · 26/02/2006 18:13

Message withdrawn

Original poster
noddyholder · 26/02/2006 18:14

Thankyou did you have pain before they extraxted it.I am in agony and am thinking there is an abcess as otherwise it wouldn't hurt so much Thanks for your reply I really appreciate it

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heavenis · 26/02/2006 18:20

I had pain before mine. But it came and went. Which tooth is it. I think the one I had out was a wisdom tooth and they have a completely different set of nerves so they told me.

Original poster
noddyholder · 26/02/2006 18:21

It isn't a wisdom tooth it is on the bottom left second from last.It is so painful and so is the gum but I don't know if I can last a week for antibiotics as I am in so much pain

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Yorkiegirl · 26/02/2006 18:25

Message withdrawn

fairyjay · 26/02/2006 18:28

Noddyholder
Was there a couple of weeks ago - it's agony isn't it. For immediate relief (as well as maximum painkillers) I held a cotton wool pad soaked in whisky over the gum, which seemed to numb it a little. Probably against all rules, but I was desperate!
I've got crap teeth, so have had a number of root canal fillings, and a couple have had to be re-done by an expert, as they were too tricky for my own dentist to do them effectively.
Is there a dental hospital near where you live?

Original poster
noddyholder · 26/02/2006 18:34

I don't know if there is ahospital like that I don't think so.I really want the tooth out it was 1st bad 3 years ago and has never really settled.I am maxing out on painkillers but need to be careful due to other health issues not to take too many!Will try the whiskey thoughI have never appreciated not being in pain as much as I do now IYSWIM This is seriously more painful than when i had ds

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heavenis · 26/02/2006 18:35

Ive done the whiskey thing in the past and it did work for a bit. I don't think cold weather helps either.

HappyMumof2 · 26/02/2006 19:51

Message withdrawn

Original poster
noddyholder · 27/02/2006 07:54

I have been up all night with it and am waiting for the dentist to ring me back.I am getting desperate now They open at 8 so fingers crossed
The tooth has always hurt a bit although x ray showed no infection but this flared up really quickly saturday and is now a lump on my gum which I can't touch it is so painful Any ercommendations for pain killers I can't take ibuprofen

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fairyjay · 27/02/2006 13:08

Hope you've been to the dentist by now, and are getting it sorted.
Can you take paracetamol?

Original poster
noddyholder · 27/02/2006 13:15

I have got antibiotics as the abcess is too severe to remove the tooth atm I also have dihydrocodeine(SP)and it has just taken the edge off it.I am praying the antibiotics work as the anaesthetic only partially works if there is an abcess thereSad

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Original poster
noddyholder · 28/02/2006 07:18

How long do antibiotics take to work?
And what is the strongest otc painkiller?I have been up all night again and am desperate

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HappyMumof2 · 28/02/2006 07:34

they can take 48 hours I think, but it may take a bit longer to settle down completely. I went back to my dentist after 2 days as I couldn't take the pain anymore and he gave me another antibiotic to take with the amoxicillan, metronidazale (sp?) apparently they only give it if the infection is severe. Which one have you got?

I found taking dihydracodeine (sp?) alternated with paracetomol & nurofen (although you can't take that) was the only thing which just about took the edge off it. Dentist said it was ok to do this, so you are basically taking something every 2 hours.

It's really horrible, isn't it? I said to dentist I would have pulled my own tooth out with pliars if I'd had any, it was that bad Sad

Hope it settles soon Smile

Original poster
noddyholder · 28/02/2006 07:37

I took one nurofen last nightBlushas I was desperate I know from previous migraines that the odd one is ok but not to be used as a regular treatment so am back to co codamol today I would pull it out myself too I have spent 3 nights now up and down and sitting in the living room in the dark in agony I pray it goes soon I have had 2 kidney transplants and this is seriously far worse!

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fairyjay · 28/02/2006 08:27

You poor thing!
My dentist gave me the two antibiotics to take side by side, I think they were the same ones as Happymum. But I think they do take a couple of days.
Speak to your GP about pain relief, because you can take certain painkillers side by side.

chapsmum · 28/02/2006 09:48

Oh you poor girl, I am nursing a failed root canal, just now and have an appt to go back next week!

If you have dihydrocodiene I would take this then take paracetamol a few hours later. (stop the co-codamol though as this is paracetamon and codine phosphate, Dyhudrocodeine is slightly more effective)

Is neurofen out of the question because of your kidney trouble?

Original poster
noddyholder · 28/02/2006 09:56

nurofen is ok in an absolute emergency ie a one off I had a severe migraine once years ago and was given it.The thing is it is the inly thing that touches the pain and I think I would be tempted to keep taking them!I am hoping the anti biotics help today I am distraught tbh as I have had no sleep Soluble aspirin seems to work aswell I may just have that or ibuprofen at night in order to sleep

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chapsmum · 28/02/2006 10:01

Asprin tends to maake the problem worse as it can actually cause asprin burns!

What about swapping everything for some soluble co-codamol, swich it over the tooth and swallow. This worked a treat for me. Hot water bottle for you wee jaw and warm not hot or cold drinks

chapsmum · 28/02/2006 10:02

if the antibiotics are not helping after 48 hours you should phone your dentist again

mcmum · 28/02/2006 10:30

nonnyholder - i think yo are really brave - i hate dentist - hope you feel better soon - did you know you can get soluable paracetamol too !

chapsmum where have you been ? i was waiting for you on tother thread lol Smile

Original poster
noddyholder · 01/03/2006 07:01

This has officially sent me mad now and I am going to go back to the dentist today as haven't had any sleep for days and am still in agony!

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mcmum · 01/03/2006 09:35

Sad poor you hope you get sorted Smile